SASKATOON — For thousands living with epilepsy, a new surgical breakthrough in Saskatoon could mean faster treatment, shorter recovery and care closer to home.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and the Royal University Hospital (RUH) Foundation have announced Saskatchewan’s first stereotactic robotic epilepsy surgery was successfully completed at RUH in Saskatoon on March 23.
The operation occurred with the newly installed Robotic Stereotactic Assistance (ROSA) robot, named Erin in honour of donor Merlis Belsher’s granddaughter. ROSA was made possible through donors from across the province. The RUH Foundation led the $1.2-million fundraising campaign, which received a $700,000 gift from the Belsher family.
“This neurosurgical robot will improve outcomes for patients living with epilepsy who can now access safer, shorter and more precise surgeries, with quicker recovery times, closer to home," said Minister of Health Jeremy Cockrill. “We are incredibly grateful for the contributions of Merlis Belsher and family, all of the donors and the Royal University Hospital Foundation for the funding they have provided for this technology.”
According to a news release from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, epilepsy affects approximately 12,000 people in Saskatchewan. For roughly one-third of those who live with drug-resistant epilepsy, the condition can place major limits on independence, employment, driving and daily life.
Until now, the SHA said patients requiring this advanced diagnostic procedure needed to travel outside the province for assessment. Manual placement of depth electrodes, which are essential for understanding where seizures begin in the brain, allowed surgeons to place only three to five electrodes during procedures that could take eight to nine hours.
This meant that many patients did not receive enough diagnostic information to determine whether surgical treatment could help them.
"The introduction of the ROSA robotic system, Erin, is an exciting advancement that reflects what is possible when clinical expertise, innovation and community support come together," said Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Andrew Will. "This technology advances epilepsy care in our province and strengthens our ability to provide comprehensive treatment close to home. We are deeply grateful to RUH Foundation and the many donors whose support made this possible."
"The stereotactic robot is a key component of any centre offering comprehensive epilepsy care — and now it's in use at the RUH,” said RUH neurosurgeon Dr. Amit Persad. “With this new technology and the support and expertise of our epilepsy team, we can perform these important diagnostic procedures with greater efficiency and detail than ever before. I have seen firsthand what this can mean for people: patients who went from daily seizures to finishing university degrees, starting careers, getting their driver's licences back. I am so proud to offer that level of care right here in Saskatchewan, and grateful for the support of the donors who made it possible.”
The introduction of the ROSA robotic system at RUH represents a significant turning point for epilepsy care in Saskatchewan, the SHA news release stated. With ROSA, neurosurgeons can now place 16 to 22 electrodes in a single three-hour session with remarkable precision, dramatically reducing procedure time while greatly increasing diagnostic capacity.
Seizure mapping also helps clinicians make clearer decisions for patients who previously could not be fully assessed, the news release said. The technology now brings advanced surgical investigation and treatment options to Saskatchewan patients in their home province, reducing the need for travel and strengthening RUH as a provincial centre of excellence in epilepsy care.
“The ability to offer advanced epilepsy assessment and treatment within the province is transformative for patients and families. This achievement underscores our commitment to delivering high-quality surgical care across Saskatchewan," said provincial department head of surgery Dr. Mike Kelly. “This moment would not be possible without the support of the Royal University Hospital Foundation. Their collective vision and generosity are directly improving the lives of patients and shaping the future of surgical care in Saskatchewan.”
“We are so grateful to Merlis Belsher and family for their inspiring matching gift and to all the donors from across Saskatchewan who stepped up to fund this technology,” said foundation CEO Jennifer Molloy. “It is incredible to see the impact of that generosity today, with the completion of the first robotic epilepsy surgery in Saskatchewan at RUH, the epicentre for medical care in our province. I am so grateful and encouraged to know that patients and their families from across Saskatchewan will benefit from this investment.”
The announcement coincides with Purple Day, a global day of epilepsy awareness that shines a spotlight on Saskatchewan residents living with epilepsy and celebrates a major step forward in provincial care.
